119 Teams Begin Trek to Triple Grand Slam at 17th Annual Western National Championships

Aug. 1, 2017

SACRAMENTO – The 2017 Western National Championships was held here July 25-30 across four complexes in Sacramento (Sacramento Softball Complex and Hal Bartholomew Sports Park) and Placer (Maidu Regional Park and Foskett Regional Park) counties.

Winning teams from each division took the first step toward the elusive Triple Grand Slam, which also includes winning the US National Game (played against the Eastern National Champion) at the LVSSA/SSUSA World Masters Championships, and winning the World Masters Championship.

Of the 119 teams that participated in this year’s Western National Championships, 31 teams moved onto the second leg of the Triple Grand Slam and will represent the West in the US National Game.

The tournament began with the Men’s 65 through 80 age divisions on July 25-27 at Sacramento Softball Complex and Foskett Regional Park.

Starting off with the Men’s 65 Major Plus division, Timberworks/Adidas (CA) swept Omen 65 (CA) in a best two-out-of-three game series, by scores of 13-7 and 20-12.

In the five-team Men’s 65/70 Platinum division, Omen 70 (CA) defeated NorCal STIXX 65 (CA)  21-7 in the championship game to cap off a 3-0 record in bracket play. Omen 70 will represent the West in the 70 Major Plus division in the US National Game. As the highest finishing 65 Major team, NorCal STIXX will represent the West in that division in the US National Game. Eviro-Vac Marauders (BC, Canada) finished in third place.

The Men’s 65 AAA division also featured five teams, as the Oregon Crabs defeated Last Call 65 (NV) 23-10 in the championship game to finish with a perfect 3-0 record. Sacramento Islanders 65 (CA) finished in third place.

The champion of the Men’s 65 AA division was determined by a best two-out-of-three game series, as Lincoln Hills Coyotes 65 (CA) downed Git-R-Done 65 (CA) in the rubber match 14-12, after the teams split the first two games. Lincoln Hills Coyotes won the opener 18-8 while Git-R-Done bounced back with a 23-18 win in game two to force the third and decisive game.

In the six-team Men’s 70 Gold division, Lincoln Hills Coyotes 70 (CA) defeated California Wrecking Crew 16-13 in the championship game to complete a 3-0 record in bracket play. Lincoln Hills Coyotes will represent the West in the 70 AAA division in the US National Game, while California Wrecking Crew, a singleton team, will be the West representative for the US National Game in the 70 Major division. Sacramento Islanders 70 (CA) finished in third place.

Sacramento Buds (CA) swept California Oaks 16-2 and 9-3 in a best two-out-of-three game series, to win the Men’s 70 AA division.

General Equipment (OR) will represent the West in the US National Game in the Men’s 75 Major division, as the team defeated State Roofing Systems (CA) 7-4 in the championship game of the five-team 75 Major division. After dropping their first game in the bracket, State Roofing Systems won two straight games to reach the championship game. Kokopelli Eye Scorpions (AZ) finished in third place. As a singleton team, San Francisco Seals 75’s (CA), will represent the West in the US National Game in the 75 Major Plus division.

In the three-team 75/80 Gold division, Redwood City Gold Rush (CA) defeated Triple Play 75 (CA) 24-16 in the championship game. Redwood City Gold Rush will represent the West 80 AAA division in the US National Game, while Triple Play will represent the West in the 75 AAA division in the US National Game. Sacramento Gold will represent the West in the 80 Major division in the US National Game.

The tournament continued with the Men’s 40 through 60 age divisions on July 28-30, with all four complexes in action.

Starting with the six-team Men’s 40 Masters Major Plus division, NWP (CA) came back to defeat Prestige/Elite Sports Orange County (CA) 21-11 in the “if” game, after dropping the championship game, 30-15. Prestige/Elite had a full slate on the final day of competition, as the team began the day playing in the first elimination game of the bracket. With their backs against the wall, the team rattled off four straight wins before running out of gas in the “if” game. Team CPC (CA) finished in third place.

NWP (40 Major Plus) Western National Champs

In the seven-team Men’s 40 Masters Major division, SofaKing/Softball Elite (CA) registered a perfect weekend, going 2-0 in seeding play to earn the No. 1 seed, before going 3-0 in bracket play, including a 25-21 win over Classic Glass/One Nation (CA) in the championship game. Classic Glass/One Nation bounced back from an 0-2 showing in seeding play, as well as a loss in their first bracket game, winning four straight games to reach the championship game and finish in second place. Team ASB/Executive 1 finished in third place.

No Limit/Fay’s Sports (CA) swept Game Over (CA) in a best two-out-of-three game series, by scores of 24-13 and 19-8 to determine the Men’s 40 Masters AAA champion.

In the six-team Men’s 50 Major Plus division, J.K. Inc/Miken (CA) posted a perfect 5-0 record over the weekend, going 2-0 in seeding play to earn the No. 2 seed, before recording a 3-0 record in bracket play, including a 28-6 win over top seed Nor Cal Warriors (CA) in the championship game. Nor Cal Warriors also went 2-0 in seeding play and earned the No. 1 seed via the tie-breaker of least runs allowed. JU Entertainment/AfterShock (CA) bounced back from an 0-2 record in seeding play, as well as a loss in their first bracket game, to win three straight games in the elimination side of the bracket en route to their third-place finish.

The eight-team Men’s 50 Major division saw three teams post a 2-0 record in seeding play, as KM Sportz (CA), Layer Cake Wines/Crush 50 (CA) and JU Entertainment (CA), earned the No. 1, 2 and 3 seeds, respectively. Moving onto bracket play, the top two seeds, KM Sportz and Layer Cake/Crush 50 met in the championship game, as KM Sportz completed a 4-0 showing in the bracket, with a 26-23 victory. Cali Gold Athletics finished in third place following a 3-2 record in bracket play.

KM Sportz (50 Major) Western National Champs

In the nine-team Men’s 50 AAA division, Calhoun/Michael’s Toyota (WA) ran through the bracket, going 4-0, including an 18-7 win over Outlaws of Lincoln (CA) in the championship game. Outlaws of Lincoln won three straight games in the elimination side of the bracket to reach the championship game and post their runner-up finish. Portland Marathon finished in third place.

Calhoun/Michael's Toyota (50 AAA) Western National Champs

Sommerville Softball (CA) won the six-team Men’s 55 Major Plus division, going 2-0 in seeding play to secure the top seed and 3-0 in bracket play, including a 35-10 win over Elite (AZ) in the championship game. JU Entertainment/55 (CA) won three straight games in the elimination side of the bracket en route to their third-place finish.

The four-team Men’s 55 Major division saw Doerflinger (WA) come back to defeat California Energy, 35-25, in the “if” game, after falling in the championship game, 19-17. Sonoma County Crush 55 (CA) finished in third place.

In a match-up of the top two seeds, Senior Bend Elks (OR) defeated top seed Fresno Heat (CA), 24-15, in the championship game of the five-team Men’s 55 AAA division. After being upset in their first two games in the three-game guarantee bracket, Fresno Heat won three straight games to reach the championship game. Kamikaze 55 (CA) finished in third place.

Senior Bend Elks (55 AAA) Western National Champs

Playing in a best two-out-of-three game series to determine the champion in the Men’s 55 AA division, Pastimers (WA) defeated Lights Out 55 (CA), 21-12, in the rubber match, after the team’s split the first two games. Pastimers edged out an 8-7 win in game one, on a game-winning hit by Gerry Rossmeirer; while Lights Out won game two by a comfortable 25-13 margin, forcing a third game. In the second game, the hero of game one, Rossmeirer, was trying to beat out an infield throw and tripped running to first, breaking his leg on the fall.  "He (Gerry) had an operation on Saturday night and was able to get back home Monday evening via a car ride from a teammate," said Ed Minshull, Pastimers manager.  "I have to say, Light's Out was first class on their sportsmanship and concern for Gerry's well being.  Plus the SSUSA staff was great and well prepared to deal with this accident." 

Pastimers (55 AA) Western National Champs

MTC 60’s/Dudley (CA) was victorious in the three-team Men’s 60 Major Plus division, downing Summy’s Demolition (CA) 21-5 in the championship game, completing a perfect 5-0 record for the weekend. Old Dawgs (CA) finished in third.

Houston Fire, the No. 7 seed in the seven-team Men’s 60 Major division, caught fire in bracket play, going 4-0, including a 16-9 win over top seed Reloaded (CA) in the championship game. Goodman Racing (WA) finished in third place.

Mountain Mike’s Pizza (CA) came out of the elimination side of the bracket in the 14-team Men’s 60 Silver division to double-dip top seed Cut Loose (CA) 9-8 and 18-11 in the championship and “if” game, respectively. The win gives Mountain Mike’s Pizza a berth into the US National Game, representing the West in the 60 AAA division. Mountain Mike’s Pizza fell to Cut Loose earlier in the bracket, 17-16. The Crew (CA) finished in third place after making a run in the elimination side of the bracket with four straight wins. As a singleton team, Fresno Mayhem (CA), will represent the West in the 60 AA division in the US National Game.

Completing the tournament was the 10-team Women’s 40 Masters/50 Senior division, July 29-30, at Sacramento Softball Complex.

Old School (CA) took the three-team, Women’s 40 Masters Major division, defeating Smack That (CA) 14-10 in the championship game. Old School entered the bracket as the third seed and posted a perfect 3-0 record to take the championship. Fun Bunch 40’s (CA) finished in third place.

The five-team Women’s 40 AAA division saw Utah Relics edge out Old Nasty Curves (CA) 14-13 in the championship game. The win completed a perfect bracket for Utah Relics. TABU finished in third place following back-to-back wins in the elimination side of the bracket, before losing in the third place game.

Utah Relics (40 AAA) Western National Champs

The Women’s 40/50 division featured a family affair, as B.O.O.B.’s 40 (CA) played their sisters, B.O.O.B.’s 50 (CA), in a best two-out-of-three game series. The 50’s team took game one 15-12, while the 40’s team came back to win game two 10-9 and the rubber match 7-0. Both teams would earn US National Game berths in the 40 AA and 50 AAA division.

B.O.O.B.S (40 AA) Western National Champs